Latest Parish News -28th May 2007
HOSPITAL CHURCH PATRON FEAST DAY
The Holy Spirit Hospital Church(Heilige Gheist SpitalKirche),celebrated its Patron the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Monday 28th May 2007.
Father Piotrowski celebrated a special Mass at 0800hrs.Many rose early to join in the celebration.
This year the noraml procession after Mass was cancelled unfortunatly.
PENTECOST-GREAT CELEBRATIONS AND TWO VISITING CHOIRS!
The 1000hrs Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel.Deacon Fredl Hoffmann assisted and Candidate for the Priesthood,Florian Schumtz was Master of Ceremonies.The church was crowded for the solemn high Mass and we were privileged to have two visiting choirs singing for us.Monsignor Knebel spoke about the power of the Holy Spirit in the church during his sermon.
"Voices Chorale" from University city of Princeton,New Jersey,USA and "Chorkreise Sankt Sebald" from Erlangen near Munich.
The two choirs were together as one of the members of the German choir had lived in the United States for 6 years.Only half the members of the American choir could come as many were teaching and American schools have no holiday at the moment.35 of the 70 members had paid for the trip themselves.After Füssen the choirs move on to Italy and sing in Borgo on 28th May,Rovereto on 29th May,Caldaro on 30th May and Venice on the 2nd June.
Both choirs sang a Spiritual,"Missa sine Nomine" from Ludovico Viadana during Holy Communion.They also sang "Allelujah Confitemini" by Michael Haydn.
Monsignor thanked them on behalf of the whole congregation for such uplifting singing which helped us all to pray and meditate during the Mass.
Marian Mass celebrated at church of "Our Lady of the Mountains"
Report & Photos by Myke Rosenthal-English
Father Kasimierz Piotrowski celebrated Mass in honour of Our Lady,the Mother of Jesus at 1900hrs on Thursday 24th May 2007,at the church of Our Lady of the Mountains(Frau-am-Berg-Kirche).
The organ in this church was built by Anton Jäger . It was to be one of the last works he undertook. He died before it was completed and its thought that the organ was completed byJoseph Anton Weyrather from the Tirol.
The casing was built by Joseph Anton Obermiller.
Many attended the special Mass in honour of the Mother of God,
Older members of the congregation remember when the "Via Claudia" was not such a wide road and that on the other side of the road were many houses and a Hospital for lepers.
Many people who walk past or drive past in the car wonder why there is the shape of a door which has been filled in in the centre of the Church but at least 2 metres above the road.
This was used by the lepers to cross over a bridge to the church.The bridge ,Hospital and Houses were bull-dosed in 1968 to make way for a bigger road to the border with Austria.
ECUMENICAL SERVICE IN FÜSSEN
Reporters:Petra Bader & Myke Rosenthal-English
Photographer:Myke Rosenthal-English
Christians gathered together in Füssen,Wednesday evening,23rd May 2007 to pray for each other and for unity amongst all Christians.This is normal in Germany to have ecumenical services around the time of Pentecost,whereas in the United Kingdom the feast of St Paulthe Apostle sees more unity services. Members of the Catholic,Syrian Orthodox and Lutheran churches took part.
Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel opened the service in St Mang Basilica by welcoming all and then reminding all about Abraham and God´s promise to him.After a hymn we were invited to leave the Basilica and on the way out take a piece of bread from the Lutheran Minister, Reverend Susanne Birkel .This was to remind us that we must feed our spiritual hunger and go forward in our life and faith.
After this the procession to the St Mang fountain in the city centre was lead By Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel (Catholic Priest),Father Yavno Cepe(Syrian Orthodox Priest),Reverend Joachim Spengler & Reverend Susanne Birkel(Lutheran Ministers).
When the procession reached the fountain all gathered round to hear the Reverend Susanne Birkel speak about water and how it brings life especially when we were baptised as Christians.
The congregation were accompanied by Petra Bader(Flute) & Gabriele Thomas(Guitar)
Once all had entered the Krippkirche,Reverend Spengler read a reading from the bible and gave a meditation on it.
Father Cepe,spoke to his own congregation in Arimaic,the language Our Lord,Himself spoke.Father then spoke in German about our faith and God.
Everyone then joined in the common prayer shared by all Christians,the "Our Father".Reverend Spengler then had a box full of bits of paper.On each box was a quotation from the Bible.Each member of the congregation was invited to take one and to think about it on the way home.
(Inside the Krippkirche)
MUSICAL EVENING RAISES MONEY TO RENOVATE CHAPEL
Reporter: Myke Rosenthal-English
Tuesday evening,22nd May 2007, the rain stayed away and a musical evening was held at Eschbacher Chapel which is situated near Hopfen.
It is in need of renovation and many attended a Marian Musical evening to raise funds for the repairs.The night previously the area was hit by thuderstorms all night so prayers were indeed answered that the evening could take place in the openair and not in the St Mang Basilica as was planned in the event of inclement weather.
Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel went round with the pot to put donations in.
The singing took place in the riceyard and was followed by the traditional Bavarian manner with bread and beer.
The music for the evening was provided by the Böck sisters and the Rottenbucher Kirchenbläser (Redbook Church Horns) & the young Illachtaler Parlour Music Players.
PUPILS MOURN DEATH OF TEACHER
Reporter:Myke Rosenthal-English
Pupils from the Realschule,Füssen on Tuesday mourned the loss of their beloved teacher,Herr Franz Kohl.
Herr Kohl taught Biologie,Chemistry and Citizenships skill at the school.He had served there for 18 years.
Pupils from his schoolclass attended Mass on Tuesday at 0830hrs at Acht Seligkeiten and prayed for the repose of his soul. Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel,Parish Priest spoke words of comfort to the children and also told them of the joy and promised reward to be found by following Our Lord and Saviour ,Jesus Christ.
Herr Kohl died on Monday 21st May 2007 aged 58.His Requiem Mass was held St Mang Basilica on Friday 25th May 2007.
Followed by burial in the Waldfriedhof graveyard in Füssen at 1000hrs. The Basilica was packed to overflowing with Family,Friends,Co-workers and pupils of the school where he taught for 18 years.
Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel & Father ??? celebrated the Requiem.
COMMUNION CHILDREN VISIT THE WIESKIRCHE 20TH MAY 2007
Reporter:Myke Rosenthal-English
Photographer:Miriam Rosenthal-English
Those who made their 1st Holy Communion in the Füssen Parish,including the churches of St Mang,Acht Seligkeiten,Hopfen and Weisensee were all invited to the world famous Wieskirche (Pilgrimage church of the Scourged Saviour).
It is thought by many to be the beautiful Rococo church in the world.It is about 18 kilometres from Füssen.The children and their families were shown around the church and were able to view areas which are never seen by the general public.The history of the church was explained to them and how it got its proper name.The weather was very hot and sunny and only added to the splender of the day.After the tour,in usual German custom a magnificent spread was available.Many different fruit juices lots of Viena Sausage and loads of cake for the hungry children and their families.One Communion child told us told us "It was great,we went to the top of the church and looked into the church from one of the balconies.We were actually in the painting where we were standing.You could easily have fallen down,but none of us did!" 
(Photos show children from St Mang parish playing outside the Wieskirche following the tour.)
ROGATION DAYS CELEBRATED IN FÜSSEN
Reporter:Myke Rosenthal-English
Photographer:Myke Rosenthal-English
Rogation days are still celebrated here in Bavaria.The Main Day is on the feast of St Mark (25th April),although it is not connected to that feast in anyway.3 minor days also precede the Feast of the Ascencion of Our Blessed Lord into Heaven.People gather at 0600hrs in St Mang and then process to different churches in the Parish.Mass is celebrated and we return to St Mang by 0700hrs.
Prayers are said in reparation for our sins and to ask God's blessing on the fruits of the earth.
Father Piotrowski and Deacon Hofmann lead the Procession on the 16th May 2007.Mass was celebrated in St Stephan's Franciscan Church by Father Piotrowski and Father Benno(Fransciscan).
Procession leaving the Franscican Church(Photos,Above and Below)
Procession arriving at St Mang(Photo below)
The procession leads away from St Sebastian Church,through the old graveyard.The Blessed Sacrament is carried through the streets of Füssen on the way to St Mang(15th May 2007).
The procession is returning to St Mang from the Church of St Max in Faulenbach on Monday 14th May 2007.
